New firearms regulations come into force next week

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 49, 29 May 1984, Page 6

New firearms regulations come into force next week

Present owners of firearms will pay only $11 for their lifetime licence under the Arms Regulations 1984 which come into force or June 1 1984. Besides setting the fees for the new firearms licence, the new Arms Regulations have introduced the requiremenl that a firearm may not be stored with its ammunition, or if the firearm is stored with its ammunition the firearm must be not capable of being discharged. Another new requirement is that every pistol or restricted weapon which does not bear a serial number must be stamped with an identifying number by the person who imports it or sells it.

Weapons declared restricted are anti-tank projectors, grenade dischargers, grenades containing explosives, molotov cocktails, machine guns, machine pistols, mines, mortars and rocket launchers. Detail changes have also been introduced by these regulations to fit in with the new Arms Act, which requires the licensing of firearm users. The regulations give the holder of a firearms licence power to record details of his firearms and changes of address in the part of his licence provided for this purpose. The licence holder is required also to notify the

police of any changes of address. Fees payable under the regulations are: Licence issue to an existing owner $11; replacement of a lost or defaced licence $11; licence issue to a new owner or user $27; endorsement for a pistol club member $50; endorsement for a bona fide collector $50; endorsement to keep a firearm as an heirloom or memento $11; endorsement for the curator of a museum, or an approved member of a theatre, television or film making body $ 1 1 . These fees are payable once only for life. In the case of dealers, the licence issue will cost $65 and there will be an annual renewal fee of $65.